Song Qiming stared warily at Gu Jinghong and his group, who had suddenly barged into the battlefield.
Seeing them approach, Lanxi and Qingshuang immediately led their people to block the way, shielding Song Jinzhao and Song Qiming.
Gu Baozhu abruptly halted her forward charge, her eyes flashing with a hint of bewilderment.
She hurriedly waved her hands and explained, We came from Songzhou City to wipe out the bandits. We are not bad people.
Song Jinzhao lifted her eyelids, her gaze sweeping over their guards with a heavy, assessing weight.
They wore no armor, and the young man leading them was so youthful; they were likely not official soldiers.
Seeing the other party pointing swords at him, Gu Jinghong cautiously pulled Gu Baozhu behind him to protect her.
Who are you people?
Reporting their origins before figuring out the other party background, how could his little aunt have no sense of vigilance at all?
What Gu Jinghong did not know was that Gu Baozhu had already been completely won over by Song Jinzhao previous moves. In her eyes and heart, there was nothing but pure admiration for her.
Besides, how could someone who killed bandits be a bad person?
Song Qiming reached out to move Lanxi aside and spoke with righteous authority, I am the Prefect of Suining, personally appointed by the imperial court. Who are you?
A flash of surprise crossed Gu Jinghong eyes.
He knew the former Prefect of Suining was stepping down due to illness, but to think the newly appointed prefect was this young, looking not even twenty years old.
He raised a hand, signaling his subordinates to lower their weapons. My name is Gu Jinghong. Gu Huaiyuan, the Garrison Commander of Songzhou City, is my father. May I ask for Your Excellency honorable surname?
Gu Huaiyuan son, that meant he was the grandson of Gu Zhongxun, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of the Southwest.
Having sorted out the relationships, Song Qiming dropped his guard and replied in a calm tone, My surname is Song, and my given name is Qiming. Did you come to exterminate the bandits under General Gu orders?
Gu Jinghong looked guiltily at the ground. After stammering for a long while, he gave a slight nod.
My father is busy with official duties. Knowing the bandits at Longtou Mountain were running rampant, I decided to come scout the situation first. I did not expect to run into Lord Song here.
Gu Baozhu lowered her eyes, suddenly realizing something. She snapped her head up and stared at Song Jinzhao in astonishment.
Is Lord Song older sister County Princess Linghui?
Her gaze then shifted to Song Jinzhao. Looking at the Lingyun Spear in her hands, Gu Baozhu could hardly conceal her excitement.
She bit her lip desperately but still could not suppress the joy lifting the corners of her brows.
Standing to the side, Gu Jinghong completely froze in place upon hearing Gu Baozhu words.
County Princess Linghui? The same County Princess Linghui who beat the Prince of Wei from the Shuobei Kingdom to a pulp? The one his father constantly talked about?
The aunt and nephew looked at Song Jinzhao uncertainly, holding back their inner excitement as they waited for a response.
Song Jinzhao calmly handed the Lingyun Spear over to Lanxi, and a nearby guard hurriedly stepped up to help.
Aside from the princess herself, it took two people just to barely lift this spear.
You know me?
As soon as the words fell, Gu Jinghong and Gu Baozhu immediately cupped their hands and bent their knees in a half-kneeling bow to Song Jinzhao.
Greetings to County Princess Linghui.
When Gu Baozhu looked up, the corners of her mouth were raised high, and the light sparkling in her eyes was more dazzling than the stars at night.
Princess, you are the paragon of women in this world. Not just in the Southwest Province, but even the foreign women of Panzhou, Ningzhou, and other regions deeply admire you.
Song Qiming was going to Suining to be the prefect. Did that mean County Princess Linghui would also stay in the Southwest?
Just the thought of this possibility made Gu Baozhu heart beat faster.
Zhao Jiutou, along with the other surviving bandits, was brought before Gu Jinghong securely tied up.
Second Young Master, how should we deal with these bandits?
Should we execute them on the spot or take them back?
Gu Jinghong swept his gaze over the bandits kneeling on the ground.
Originally, he wanted to use the annihilation of the Qingfeng Stronghold to prove his capabilities to his father, but County Princess Linghui had confronted the bandits first.
By the time he arrived with his men, her side already had the upper hand. Taking down the bandits was a breeze for them, which meant this merit could no longer be his.
